Produce bag with tear portion

ABSTRACT

A plastic bag for produce and the like, which comprises: a single plastic sheet, folded in one embodiment to define two generally parallel bag walls connected at one end by an integral fold line, and peripherally sealed together. Alternatively, the fold line may be replaced by a seal line between the two sheets. A transverse heat seal is formed between the bag walls in a line generally parallel to the integral fold line, to define a separate bag section having an interior that is separate from the rest of the bag. A line of tearing weakness is defined in the bag and positioned generally parallel to the integral fold line. The line of tearing weakness is positioned between the transverse heat seal and the integral fold line, to permit at least a portion of the separate bag section to be removable from the rest of the bag by tearing, without opening the rest of the bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plastic bags for produce such as apples, potatoes, onions, or other products, are often made from plastic sheeting, being formed, filled, and heat sealed with a variety of semi-automated or fully-automated processes.

As previously described in Recchia U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,681, it would be desirable to apply to these systems a technique for attaching advertising, insert labels, or other information to the bag, while permitting the bag to still be manufactured in an automated manner, for example, along a process line as described in the cited patent, in which bags are made by heat sealing and slitting, typically from a single, folded plastic sheet.

While it has been taught that information can be placed within or on a so-called “header” at one end of a bag as in Recchia U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,429, by this invention, a detachable coupon can be provided, for use in sales and marketing promotion, or carrying information which may be used or stored at a location apart from the bag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By this invention, a plastic bag for produce and the like is provided. The plastic bag may comprise a single plastic sheet, folded to define to generally parallel bag walls connected at one end by an integral fold line, and laterally sealed. Alternatively, the bag may comprise a pair of separate plastic sheets which are brought together and peripherally sealed on the various edges.

A transverse heat seal is formed between the bag walls in a line which is generally parallel to the integral fold line and to a sealed end of the bag, to define a separate bag section having an interior that is separate from the rest of the bag. A line of tearing weakness is defined in the bag, and positioned generally parallel to the integral fold line. This line of tearing weakness is positioned between the transverse heat seal and the integral fold line, to permit at least a portion of the separate bag section to be removable from the rest of the bag by tearing, without opening the rest of the bag.

The separate bag section may carry indicia, for example, writing, numbers, or an identifying trademark. The remainder of the plastic bag may also carry indicia of similar type. It is particularly contemplated that the indicia carried on the separate bag section may include a discount sale offer or another promotional offer. The purchaser of the bag of produce may tear off the separate bag section and use it as a coupon to obtain a discount sale, a premium, or the like, thus permitting marketing programs to be greatly facilitated. The torn off bag section can serve as a coupon, which can be redeemed for the desired discount, gift or premium. Alternatively, it may be used as a piece in a puzzle or a contest, carrying a unique entry number or code, which may serve as an entry for a particular contest or the like.

Preferably, the line of tearing weakness is positioned adjacent to the transverse heat seal, so that the major portion of the separate bag section is removable.

The bag of this invention may be formed with the end opposite to the one end of the separate bag section being open, for later filling with produce or other product, and then sealed along that opposite end.

Also, for example when manufactured in accordance with an automated or semi-automated process exemplified by the process illustrated in the cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,681, the bags of this invention may be connected at sealed side edges to similar bags, forming part of a double layered, plastic strip. The bags are sealed and formed into the bag of this invention, and subsequently separated by cutting at an appropriate time. If desired, the strips of uncut, formed bags, may be sent to the customer for subsequent filling and cutting.

Furthermore, the separate bag section which carries the indicia described above may have indicia which comprise letters which are right side up when the bag is positioned with the separate bag section being at the top of the bag. It may be that during filling, the separate bag section is positioned at the lower end of the bag, with filling proceeding through an open end thereof opposed to the separate bag section. Then, after sealing, the bag is inverted so that the separate bag section is on top, and the indicia printed thereon are positioned to be right side up in that normal use position, in which the bags are typically presented to the customer for sale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the bag of this invention, shown in inverted position prior to sealing of the normal lower edge, for loading of the bag with produce.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the bag of FIG. 1, shown in its finished condition and right side up, with a separate bag section being partially torn away without opening the bag.

FIG. 3 is a reduced-sized view of a strip of connected bags of FIG. 1 in accordance with this invention, shown in an inverted position of manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a plastic bag 10 for produce and the like, which comprises a pair of generally parallel bag walls connected at one end 16 by either an integral fold line 16 as shown, or, if desired, an end seal such as a heat seal. Side edges 18 of the bag are also sealed with a heat seal or the like in conventional manner.

Bag 10 may be perforated with holes 20 to provide appropriate ventilation to the produce 22, comprising onions 22 in this particular embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the end 23 of bag 10, which is opposite from fold line 16, can be open for the loading of the bag with produce or other product, such as onions 22. Specifically, this may be accomplished as part of a substantially automated process, as shown in the cited U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,681, in which bags 10 may be formed as a connected series of bags out of a double sheet of plastic from a roll of plastic sheeting, which may be folded to form a pair of generally parallel bag walls, with a series of bags 10 being defined by appropriate sealing and cutting, as particularly described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,681, making use if desired of the double heat seal and cutting die as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,429, to form cut, seal lines at bag edges 18, the disclosures of the above two patents being incorporated by reference.

Also, bag 10 carries a transverse heat seal 24 formed between bag walls 12, 14 in a line which is parallel to integral fold line 16, parallel to a sealed end of the bag, which may also be represented by numeral 16. Thus, by the presence of transverse heat seal line 24, a separate bag section 26 is defined, having an interior that is separate from the rest of the bag, being closed off therefrom by seal line 24. Also, a line of tearing weakness 28 is defined in bag 10, positioned between transverse heat seal 24 and integral fold line and bag end 16. This permits a portion of separate bag section 26 to be removable from the rest of bag 10 by manual tearing, as indicated in FIG. 2. This can be accomplished without opening bag 10 because of the presence of transverse seal line 24.

Separate bag section 26 may carry indicia 27, writing or other symbols, which may, if desired, comprise a coupon for a marketing program which may be torn off the bag and used in a discount sale offer, or another promotional offer. The indicia 27 may be directly printed on the surface of bag section 26. Thus, special offers and other promotional material may be applied to the bags, and may be removed by the purchaser without opening the bag interior, so that separate bag section 26 is usable as a coupon, a pass to an event, an entry piece for a contest or game, or any other use, particularly a commercial, promotional use.

As previously stated, the bag 10 in FIG. 1 is in an inverted position as it may be in a process line, being filled with the produce or other product 22. This may be as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, and discussed in greater detail in the previously cited patents. Then, after filling with product 22, a second, transverse seal 30 is applied at the end of the bag opposite to fold line 16, to close open end 23. This is illustrated in FIG. 2. The bag is turned right side up, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the indicia, inverted in FIG. 1, of the filled and sealed bag may be presented right side up to the customer. As shown, separate bag section 26 is removable, and may carry a special commercial offer or other communication, without opening the main portion of the bag.

The bag may be also manufactured on an individual basis, not involving a strip of connected bags, in accordance with conventional techniques.

The above is offered for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention of this application, which is as defined in the claims below. 

1. A plastic bag for produce and the like, which comprises: a single plastic sheet, folded to define two generally parallel walls connected at one end by an integral fold line and laterally sealed together; a transverse heat seal formed between said bag walls in a line generally parallel to said integral fold line, to define a separate bag section having an interior that is separate from the rest of said bag; and a line of tearing weakness defined in said bag and positioned generally parallel to said integral fold line, said line of tearing weakness being positioned between said transverse heat seal and said integral fold line, to permit at least a portion of said separate bag section to be removable from the rest of said bag by tearing, without opening the rest of the bag.
 2. The bag of claim 1 in which said separate bag section carries indicia.
 3. The bag of claim 2 in which said indicia include a sales offer.
 4. The bag of claim 2 in which said line of tearing weakness is positioned adjacent to said transverse heat seal.
 5. The bag of claim 1 in which said line of tearing weakness is positioned adjacent to said transverse heat seal.
 6. The bag of claim 1, which carries produce and is sealed on all edges
 7. The bag of claim 1 which is unsealed at an end opposite to said one end.
 8. The bag of claim 1, connected at sealed side edges to similar bags, forming part of a double layer, integral plastic strip of a plurality of said bags.
 9. The bag of claim 1 in which said separate bag section carries indicia, said indicia comprising letters that are right side up when the bag is positioned with the separate bag section being at the top of the bag.
 10. A plastic bag for produce and the like, which comprises a pair of generally parallel plastic bag walls sealingly connected together at at least one end and their sides; a transverse seal formed between said bag walls in a line generally parallel to said one end, to define a separate section having an interior that is separate from the rest of said bag; and a line of tearing weakness defined in said bag and positioned generally parallel to said one bag end, said line of tearing weakness being positioned between said transverse seal and said one bag end, to permit at least a portion of said separate bag section to be removable from the rest of said bag by tearing without opening the rest of said bag.
 11. The bag of claim 10 in which said separate bag section carries indicia.
 12. The bag of claim 11 in which said indicia include a sales offer.
 13. The bag of claim 12 in which said line of tearing weakness is positioned adjacent to said transverse heat seal.
 14. The bag of claim 10 in which said line of tearing weakness is positioned adjacent to said transverse heat seal.
 15. The bag of claim 10 which carries produce, and is sealed on all edges.
 16. The bag of claim 10 which is unsealed at an end opposite to said one end.
 17. The bag of claim 10 connected at sealed side edges to similar bags, forming part of a double layer, integral plastic strip of a plurality of said bags.
 18. The bag of claim 10 in which said separate bag section carries indicia, said indicia comprising letters that are right side up when the bag is positioned with a separate bag section being at the top of the bag.
 19. The bag of claim 10 in which said one end and sides, and said transverse seal, are heat sealed. 